Lady Regina, widow of a British embassy attache, fancies herself royalty. Daughters, proper Elizabeth and free spirited Victoria, teach at Chateau De Grace, their small "school of finesse and creativity." Victoria presents boyfriend Grady Carson as a college professor, rather than a common mechanic. Thanks to Phipps, family lawyer and guardian of their finances, and to nine year old exasperating neighbor, Delcie Perkins, the truth is revealed. Lady Regina assigns Grady Carson to low grade tasks, hoping to showcase his common "grease monkey" status to Victoria. The plan backfires when Victoria joins Grady in the menial activities. At Phipps urging, the ladies rent rooms to Professor Reynard Duvier, wealthy, Oxford educated eccentric from Vienna, assigned to work with Colonel Perkins on a highly classified American project. Lady Regina, thrilled with the Professor's elitist background, approves Elizabeth's acceptance of an expensive engagement ring. An intelligent and practical Grady finally charms Lady Regina, endearing her further by arranging outings in her prized, ancient Rolls Royce, chauffered by his employee, handsome, dimpled Gideon, who is captivated with Elizabeth.
Grady and Victoria are now secretly engaged. Grady notifies authorities of a skulking stranger and is ignored. Later, Elsa and Otis, cook and gardener, observe the stranger with binoculars surveying the Chateau. Grady and Gideon attempt a citizen's arrest, and are soundly trounced and incarcerated, discovering the Professor is under government surveillance as a spy. The Professor, pleading "persecution" to Elizabeth, pawns her ring to purchase two tickets to Vienna. As Elizabeth packs, he buys one ticket to Argentina, abandoning her. Devastated by the loss of the ring, a materialistic Elizabeth secretly admires handsome Gideon. Grady buys disgraced Colonel Perkins' house nearby, pleasing Lady Regina, who is now being courted by family lawyer, Phipps.
Author Biography:
Helen McLean was born in the Midwest. Her family moved to San Diego, California during World War II. She and her husband Bill had four sons and one daughter. They lived on three acres filled with citrus and Monterey pines overlooking a lake. Thirteen grandchildren live nearby in a small town setting. She enjoys gardening and visits from family. Painting and writing have been of paramount interest since high school, when she edited the school newspaper and wrote a column for the local paper. Her first full length novel, A Rosebud Need Not Have a Mind, was published two years before Chateau De Grace. She is currently working on a third novel.
